Monday, July 25, 2016

Did She Do It?

by Maura Donovan

(from Sheila Connolly’s County Cork Mysteries)

I knew I didn’t know anything about running a pub—or any other kind of business—when I inherited Sullivan’s. Which is in Leap, a small village in Ireland. I’ve been here almost a year now, and I’ve learned a heck of a lot, with help from some unexpected people—a sixteen-year-old girl, a couple of eighty-something locals who have become friends, and one or two police officers (they call them gardaí over here).

But I was not ready for a blizzard shutting us all in (what? It snows in Ireland? Well, yes, it does.) with an accused murderer, Diane Caldwell. But accused is as far as it got—she never went to trial. What got into me to think that we should hold our own trial at the pub? Hard to say, but we couldn’t go anywhere else, and then the lights went out. We had to do something, didn’t we?

Well, if I’m honest with myself, I have to admit that I wouldn’t have survived my first year without a lot of help from other people, and some of them are now good friends. I learned that you just can’t do it alone. So when I heard Diane’s story, I figured she deserved to be heard.

Not that I’m running down the gardaí—it’s just that they didn’t have much experience with high profile murders back when it happened, like twenty years ago. And they still don’t—which is a good thing. Ireland’s a pretty peaceful place, and when there is a crime, mostly people know who did it and they’re easy to find.

So we spent a long night in the half-dark, talking about something that happened when most of us were kids, but that people are still talking about today. That’s another thing about Ireland: people remember. And it bothers people that this murder was never solved.

What surprised me is that we actually might have solved it. At least there’s enough for a real trial now.

Oh, and the snow melted fast—gone the next day.

GIVEAWAY!!

Cozy Up To Summer Giveaway

I hope you’ve heard about our month of giveaways!

I’m offering something a little different, since I’m kind of between books right now (Dead End Street, a Museum Mystery, came out in early June, and Seeds of Deception, my next Orchard Mystery, won’t be out until October). But I’ve just finished polishing the next County Cork book, Winters Past (coming next March), so that’s where my head is at the moment (and since it’s 95 degrees here, the snowstorm in the book sounds pretty good!)

My publisher very kindly sends me copies of the audio versions of the County Cork Mysteries. I give one of each to my local library, but I have a more. So I’d like to offer an audio set of the first four County Cork Mysteries (Buried in a Bog, Scandal in Skibbereen, An Early Wake, and A Turn for the Bad). Yes, all four, together! Better that you should enjoy them than that they sit on my already-crowded bookshelves.

Leave a comment, and include your name and a valid email - (yourname (at) yourserver (dot) com, if you like, to foil the spambots) - by midnight on Tuesday, July 26th, and I’ll pick a winner at random. Good luck!

75 comments:

I'm sitting here after midnight and it's finally cooled off enough in hot, dry California to open the windows and turn off the a/c, so that snowstorm is sounding pretty good to me right now. A little creepy to be stuck with a possible murderer, but . . . .

What a terrific giveaway. Audiobooks are great for exercising. Thanks.sallycootie@gmail.com

It's very early here and we had violent thunderstorms all night, which my poor dogs hate. Woke up to this amazing giveaway thanks for the chance. I love this series and would love to have them on audiobook. poohwine1217@gmail.com

What was really fun was having a younger American woman look at the evidence with a fresh eye. But the real case (or more specifically the people involved) are still making headlines in the national press, twenty years later.

Ireland is by far my favorite place in the world to go! I also love to be able to sit down and listen to books when I get a chance when the kids are asleep and I am having a chance to fold laundry. I don't always get a chance to sit down and read as often as I would like to when it comes to a paper book. I think I get through one book every 2 to 3 weeks because of kids and household duties. Thank you for once again having a fantastic giveaway! Sherylhbooth(at)gmail(dot)com

Hi Sheila! It's supposed to be 100 degrees here today, so even just looking at your snowy picture is cooling me off - I hope that everything works out for Maura, please take care and stay cool! Nicole :-)

Hey, I am in hot and dry Austin TX.....we have had a month of above normal temperatures....and since Texas in summer is hotter than ....nearly anyplace, it is hot. The snow storm, oh I am ready. Thanks for the post and would love to win. annettena (at) yahoo (dot) com

This would be a great prize! I can listen to your books as I walk instead of the endless chattering about Pokemon! I am definitely ready for some cooler weather! Thanks for the chance! edtercross7304@yahoo.com

I am so looking forward to Maura's next adventure! I always hear about how green Ireland is, but forget they have their seasons too! Thanks for the chance to win the audio books!JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

We are getting a break from the heat here today only suppose to be 89. My 4 yr old grandson has been wanting snow he is tired of hot he tells me. Thanks for the chance this is a great series.lhxp74@yahoo.com

We are getting a break from the heat here today only suppose to be 89. My 4 yr old grandson has been wanting snow he is tired of hot he tells me. Thanks for the chance this is a great series.lhxp74@yahoo.com

Oh my goodness, this is such an amazing giveaway! I've been wanting to try audio books during my horribly mundane and torturous elliptical workouts. This would be a great way to try this series. Thanks for the chance to win! awilcox1182@gmail.com

This is a new author for me. I love mysteries and I'm just getting into audio books. Thank you for the amazing chance to win 4 audio books. Series are another favorite. Julie Staffordspike5271943 at AOL dot com.

I used to listen to audio books when I worked. I thouroughly enjoyed them. Since I retired I haven't listened to any. I would love to win this and start listening to audio books while I sew. Thank you for the giveaway! crossxjo @hotmail. com

I was so happy to see that snow and dream of a blizzard. It's been unbearably hot and humid here in WNY. I love looking back at old cold cases (pun intended) so would love to be hashing things out with these guys on a cold winter's day.

Ooooh, I love ALL of your books. But I would love to have this set on tape. Thanks for giving them away. PS. I enjoyed following your time at your new location across the pond on FB. So fun! lynneandco@comcast.net

Steamy hot here on the Gulf Coast and still in the 80s as I approach midnight. Sure could use a little winter blast to ease the humidity. LOL. being a cozy addict, this series needs to be read. Looking forward to a new author and series. Thanks for a chance to win the wonderful audibles! laurathomas61(at)att(dot)net

Oh I would love these audio books, as I cannot afford them on a retired budget but I have your books on my list. Thank you for the giveaway. If I win I will pass the books on to my husband's cancer Dr office library they need books. Georgiaqueenvictoria50 (at)aol(dot)com

I really like this series and have read the first three. I like snowstorms! I wish we were having one right now. I don't need to win. I have the fourth book in the series to read yet. But that's a great prize!

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